Multiple phonograph coupling apparatus



MULT I FLE PHONOGRAPH COUPL ING APPARATU 5 Filed June 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR.

Feb. 11, 1941. v L, AN'DRE 2,231,517

MULTIPLE PHONOGRAPH COUPLING APPARATUS Filed June 15Z 1939 2 SheetsSheet 2 -i f7 f3 f 40 w 56 7' 58 3 Patented Feb. 11, 1941 UNITED PATENT OFFICE 2,231,517 MULTIPLE PHONOGRAPH COUPLING 1 PARATUS Application June 15, 1939, Serial No. 279,309

4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to automatic phonographs and more particularly to apparatus enabling two automatic selective record changers to be electrically coupled to operate and play 5 alternately without interference.

Heretofore, the operation of an automatic phonograph was limited to playing the number of records available in its own record changer and a considerable time delay occurred between the playing of different records because of the time consumed while the played record was being restored and a subsequently selected record placed upon the turntable'in playing position.

The present invention overcomes the above objections in providing mechanism for inter-connecting two similar record changers and a control panel common to both.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of electrical means for inter-connecting two similar selective record changers, either under the control of separate or combined control stations, adapted to alternately play selected records from either or both machines without interference.

2 A further object provides means for the completion of the record changing cycle, namely, the automatic removal of a selected record .from a magazine and its subsequent transfer to the turntable for playing, in the second of a pair of inter-connected record changers while the first record changer of the pair is playing a previously selected record, thus providing means for a rapid repetition of play between the two interconnected record changers and eliminating the time delay normally consumed during the record changing cycle of each record changer.

A further object is the provision of apparatus whereby a plurality of selections may be made substantially at the same time on both of two record changers, including means for controlling the alternate playing of the selected group of records in both record changers.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a diagrammatic showing of two record changers and a push button control panel common to both, including an amplifier and loud speaker.

Fig. 2 shows the automatic switching means attached to each record changer.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic showing of the me chanical components of the apparatus including a schematic wiring diagram connected thereto.

Referring to Fig. 1, two conventional record changers A and B are shown with a push button control station I connected thereto.

66 Junction box 2 is provided as a housing for miscellaneous wiring and the locking changeover relay to be hereinafter described. The output of an audio frequency amplifier 3 is connected to loud speaker 4. The record changer and amplifier are supplied with electric power through cable 5. A motor driven shaft 6a and 5b in each record changer is caused to rotate approximately one revolution in one direction while removing a selected record from the magazine and placing it upon the turntable for playing, and following the playing, the shafts 6a and 6b are caused to return approximately one revolution in the opposite directionto transfer the record from the turntable and return it to its original position in the magazine. To each of these shafts is connected a control wheel for operating control switches to be hereinafter described. Simllar suitable mechanical movements are available for this use in most types of automatic record changers.

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged view of one of the shafts 6a to which has been attached wheel 1a. A crank 8a is pivotally mounted on wheel la and urged into the position shown in Fig. 2 by spring 9a. An insulated projection llla is affixed to the end of crank arm Ba and arranged in the path of switch spring in of the switch HaP-l2a-I3a, which is aifixed to the record changer. The switch springs no and I3a are -normally closed while springs I20. and H a are normally open. Attached to the wheel 1a is nonconducting cam Ma which is arranged in the path of spring |6a of the normally closed switch I5al6a, also afllxed to the record changer.

The position of the elements shown in Fig. 2 corresponds with the rest or inoperative position of the record changer.

Referring to Fig. 3, the apparatus lying to the left of the dotted line includes the record changer A and the distribution unit- 2 shown in Fig. 1. The apparatus lying to the right of the dotted line includes the record changer 13, these record changers being well known in the art, a typical example of which is the patent to Green, No. 2,104,032, granted January 4, 1938, and the patent to Wilcox, No. 2,002,236, granted May 21, 1945. Wheels la and lb are attached to shafts 6a and 6b of the record changers respectively. The normally closed switches I50,- lGa and I5b--i6b are mounted adjacent to each wheel in the path of the cams Ma and Nb. However, the plane of this cam is fixed so that the levers 8a--8b and the insulated studs Na and "lb do not interfere with the action oithe switches i5cl6a and |5b-I6b when the wheels are rotated. Ma and Mb represent the electric motors for driving the record changers. The individual record changer starting and stopping switches Ila and Nb are attached to each record changer. These switches are mechanically operated by the automatic action of each record changer to. be hereinafter described.

Although the switches Ha. and Nb are used to illustrate a well known means for stopping the rotation of the wheels la and 1b, in some particular types of automatic record changers where a single motor is used for driving the entire record changer, a mechanical clutch is utilized to stop the record transfer mechanism when the record is properly positioned on the turntable. It is apparent in a machine of this character that a mechanical clutch would serve the same purpose as the switchesJla and llb in arresting the rotation of the wheels Ia and lb.

The turntables Illa. and |9b are driven by separate motors, in the record changers A and B respectively, (shown in Fig. 2), and the reproducers. I90. and l9b, which are parts of each record changer, are connected through switching means, to be hereinafter described, to amplifier -3. The output of the amplifier is connected to loud speaker 4.

Referring to Fig. 3, a locking change-over relay with coils 20 and 2| is provided to operate a pair of single pole double throw change-over switches 25-26-21 and 28-29-30. The armature 23 is pivoted at 45 and its active end normally urged by a suitable spring away from the coil 23. Insulator 22, which is integral with armature 23, is provided with slots to retain the center blades 26 and 29 of the change-over switches. Armature 24 of coil 2| is pivoted at 46 and normally urged away from coil 2| by the action of a suitable spring, as shown. Armature 23, as shown in the figure, is in the position it will assume following a momentary attractive effort of coil 20. It will be noted that the armature is held in its attracted position by the end of armature 24 engaging behind the end of armature 23, thus the switch blades 25-26 and 28-29 are held in their closed circuit positions, the blades 21 and 30 remaining in their open circuit positions. are in the positions shown and the coil 2| is momentarily energized, the armature 24 will be attracted and disengage from the end of armature 23, permitting the change-over switch blades 26-29 to move to their opposite positions, under the influence of the spring attached to the end of armature 23, thus opening the circuit being the circuit between blades 26-21 and 29-30 respectively.

ductors 3|.

coil20 by conductor 33. The remaining terminal of coil 20 is connected to switch spring |b by conductor 34. Switch spring I5a. is connected to one terminal of coil 2| by conductor 35. The remaining terminal of coil-2| is connected. to switch spring I ||b by conductor 36. The switch It is apparent when the armatures spring |3a is connected to one side of switch "a, and change-over switch blade 25 by conductors 31. The change-over switch blade 21 is connected to switch spring |3b and one side of switch ||b by conductors 38. The remaining terminals of the electric motors Ma and Mb are connected to switches "a and Nb respectively by conductors 40. One side of the reproducers I91; and |9b are common and connected to the amplifier input through conductor 4|.

The remaining input terminal of the amplifier 3 is connected to the central blade of the "pick- -up change-over switch 29 by conductor 42. The remaining leads from the reproducers |9a and |9b are connected to blades 28 and 30 o! the pickup change-over switch by conductors 43 and 44 respectively.

When the record changers A and B are both 'at their rest positions the wheels Ia and lb,

shown in Fig. 3, will both assume positions as shown in Fig. 2.

Assuming that a single selection has been made on the left-hand record changer A by the operation of a selected button on the control panel, Fig 1, the switch Ila, Fig. 3, will automatically close, (through the action of apparatus not shown), and the wheel la will begin rotation in a counter-clockwise direction and will continue its rotation until the record is placed upon the turntable and the reproducer begins the play of the record. At this'point the switch lla will be automatically opened and simultaneously the wheel la will be stopped in the position shown in Fig. 3.

During this counter-clockwise rotation of the wheel 1a., the projection Illa. will strike switch spring l2a. and momentarily break its contact with I30. and make contact with I la. The switch ||a-|2a. will complete a circuit through coil 2| through the closed switch l5b-I6b to trip the change-over relay into position shown in Fig. 3. As the wheel continues its rotation the switch ||a.-|2a-|3a will restore to its normal position as shown in Fig. 3. Previous to this action the non-conducting cam |4a will openthe switch l5w-l6a.

Since the position of the locking relay was established by previous operation, as shown in Fig. 3, the change-over switch springs 25 and 26 were closed, hence, the switch |2a.-|3a, which is in series with the motor Ma, is short-circuited and the motor Ma continues its normal uninterrupted operation and the playing of a record in' record changer A, Fig. 1 The switch |5a -l6a is connected in series with the coil 2| and since it remains open during the playing of a record in record changer A, the coil 2| is inoperative, which assures the proper normal operation of record changer A. While record changer A is playing a, selected record and during this time a second selection is made on the control panel corresponding to a record in record changer B,

the switch |'|b will automatically close and the motor Mb will start the transfer of a record in record changer B and simultaneously start the rotation of the wheel lb. Since switch l2b-l3b is in series with the motor Mb and the changeover switch blades 26 and 21 are open, the motor will stop and the wheel 1b assume a position shown in Fig. 3, as a result of the projection Illb striking switch spring |2b and moving it out of contact with spring l3b, thus opening the circuit to motor Mb. Simultaneously spring |3b is moved into contact with spring ||b which will partially complete a series circuit to 0011 2|. It is also to be observed that the switch lib-46b is now in its open position which interrupts the circuit through coil 20 to the switch l|al2a. The record changer B has now stopped-with a selected record placed on the turntable and the reproducer held in an arrested position in close proximity with the starting grooves of' the record.

When the record in record changer A has completed its play, switch Ila will automatically close (through the action of apparatus in the record changer not shown), and start the return transfer of the record. At the same instant the wheel 1a will begin its return clockwise rotation, and as soon as cam Ha has traveled sufllciently far to permit the switch Ial6a to close, it is apparent that a circuit will be completed through magnet 2| I and switch llbl2b, and tripping the locking relay into a position opposite of that shown in the drawings. This action will close the change-over switch blades 26-41 and short-circuit the open switch |2b-i3b and cause the motor Mb to continue its transfer cycle. In so doing, the reproducer will engage the starting grooves of the record and the playing of the B record changer will have started. The position of the change-over relay for the. completion of the play of record changer Bis assured because the switch l5b-l6b will interrupt a circuit through coil 20 and prevent any further operation of the change-over switch until the completion of the playing of the record.

It is apparent that if a selection is made on the record changer B and subsequently a selection is made on record changer A, the B record changer will function first and the action of the A machine will be arrested until the B machine has completed its play in the same manner as described above.

It is also obvious that a sequence of selected records can be played on one record changer only without interference or delay from the other.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An electric coupling apparatus for two automatic selective record changers each having means for performing a record changing cycle and a record playing cycle comprising a source of electric energy, electric switching means attached to and operated by each record changer, a magnetic relay controllable by both the aforesaid switching means, an electric circuit network from the said relay to both said switching means and said source of electric energy',.said switching means adapted to cause the said record changers to operate alternately when both are initiated, each electric switching means having means for automatically initiating the operation of one of said record changers from its record changing cycle to its record playing cycle and substantially simultaneously initiating the operation of said other record changer from its record playing cycle to its record changing cycle.

2. An electric coupling apparatus for two automatic selective record changers each having means for performing a record changing cycle and a record playing cycle comprising a source of electric energy, electric switching means attachedto and operated by each record changer, a magnetic relay controllable by both the aforesaid switching means, anelectric circuit network from the said relay to both said switching means and said source of electric energy, said switching means adapted to cause the said record changers to operate alternately when both are initiated, each electric switching means having means determined by the positions of said first named switch means and the position of said relay for arresting the operation of one of said record changers following its record changing cycle. 3. An electric coupling apparatus for a plurality automatic selective record changers each having means for performing a record changing cycle and a record playing cycle, comprising a source of electric energy, electric switchingmeans attached to and operated by each record changer, a magnetic relay means controllable by each of the aforesaid switching means, an electric circuit network from the said relay means to each of vsaid switching means, said switching means adapted to cause .the said record changers to operate sequentially when a plurality of record changers are initiated, each electric switching means having means for automatically initiating the operation of one of said record changers from its record changing cycle to its record playing cycle and substantially simultaneously initiating the operation-of any other record changer from its record playing cycle to its record changing cycle.

4. In a coupling apparatus for a plurality of record changers an electric switching means driven by each said record changer, each of said means comprising a movable member driven by each said record changer and arranged to move in two directions for every complete operation of each-said record changer, a yieldable abutment afllxed to said movable member yieldable only in one direction, a second abutment integral with said movable member, an electric switch positioned in the path of said yieldable abutment, a second electric switch positioned in the path of the said second abutment, the said second electric switch adapted to operate when said movable member is moved in either direction, the first mentioned electric switch adapted to operate only upon uni-directional movement of said movable member.

LLOYD J. ANDRES. 

